Detachable heel

ABSTRACT

A detachable heel for shoes such as ladies&#39;&#39; or men&#39;&#39;s shoes that includes a means for permitting the manual locking or unlocking of the heel with respect to the shoes, so that heels can be placed or changed whenever desired or required.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harvey Simonetti 56] References Cited635 Princeton Place N.W., Washington, UNITED STATES PATENTS Pl] A 1 NO g'g' g 2,195,324 3/1940 Brunmark 36/42 P 2,439,310 4/1948 Mancuso 36/42[22] Filed Dec. 18,1969 [45] Pmemsd Junel 1971 2,492,0l3 12/l949Sorofman 36/42X 2,795,867 6/1957 Zuckerman et al 36/42 PrimaryExaminerH. Hampton Hunter AttorneySherman Levy [54] DETACHABLE HEEL 5Clalms 6 Drawing ABSTRACT: A detachable heel for shoes such as ladies or[52] U.S. Cl 36/42 mens shoes that includes a means for permitting themanual [51] Int. Cl A43b 21/39 locking or unlocking of the heel withrespect to the shoes, so [50] Field of Search 36/ 12,41, that heels canbe placed or changed whenever desired or 36, 36 A, 36 B, 36 C VIII/I111"required.

PATENTEU JUN 11971 3,581,413

II "IIIIII n "l"...""""" INVENTUR. HARVEY $1M NET'N m'TaeA/EVDETACIIABLE HEEL The present invention relates to detachable shoe heel,and the present invention is an improvement over the detachable shoeheel shown in prior US. Pat. No. 2,449,914.

An object of the present invention is to provide a detacha ble heel forshoes that includes an improved locking arrangement and wherein a shoeheel can be easily and quickly changed or replaced when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable shoeheel that works automatically, and wherein there is nothing to detractfrom of appearance of the shoe when the device of the present inventionis being used, and, in addition, the present invention will not hurt thewearer's foot, and the present invention permits heels to be readilychanged so that, for example, heels of a desired color or style can beused by the wearer.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described that iseconomical to manufacture and efficient in operation as well as beingrugged in structure and foolproof in use.

Still other objects will become apparent in the subsequent descriptionin the specification. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the detachable heel ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of certain constructional detailsof the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of'FlG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing certain of the parts of thedetachable heel and locking mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the presentinvention for a mans shoe.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-5of the drawings, the numeral indicates a shoe such as a lady's shoe andincludes the usual upper 21, inner sole 22, outer sole 23 and a heel 24that is detachably mounted. In accordance with the present inventionthere is provided an improved means for locking the heel such as theheel 24 in place on the shoe 20, and this lock is indicated generally bythe numeral 29. The numeral 25 indicates a recess that is formed in theupper portion of the heel 24, an the recess 25 extends from the frontedge of the shoe heel to a point 26 that is spaced forwardly of the rearedge of the heel. There is also provided a tapered surface or clearancespace 27 adjacent the lower front portion of the recess 25 for a purposeto be later described.

The numeral 28 indicates a lever that includes a main flat portion 29,and the lever 28 further includes a curved fingerengaging springyportion 31. The numeral 32 indicates a base piece that is mounted in therecess 25 above the lever 28, and the base piece 32 includes ahorizontally disposed bottom wall 33 as well as spaced parallelsidewalls 34 and upwardly arranged inwardly disposed flanges 35 wherebythere is defined within the base 32 a pair of diametrically disposedtrackways 36. The bottom wall 33 of the base piece 32 has spaced-apartcountersunk openings 37 that register with the openings 38 in the lever28 and securing elements such as screws 39 are adapted to extend to theregistering openings 37 and 38 for fastening the base piece 32 to thesidewalls 34. The projecting portion 31 of the lever 28 has an aperturedportion therein. The numeral 41 indicates a support member that hasspacedapart openings 42 therein that register with aligned openings inthe rear portions of the inner and outer wall and shank I9. Securingelements such as rivets 43 extend through these lastnamed registeringopenings for maintaining the support member 41 connected in place to theshoe. The support member 41 includes a lower portion 44 of increasedwidth as well as an upper portion 45 of decreased width so that there isdefined on the support member 41 shoulders 46 that are slidably receivedin the trackways 36. The numeral 47 indicates a pin that depends fromthe lower front portion of the support member 41, and the pin 47 isadapted to selectively engage the aperture in the lever 28.

Attention is directed to FIG. 6 of the drawings wherein the numeral 48indicates a portion of a mans shoe that includes an upper 49, the usualsole 50, and a detachable heel 51 that is adapted to be held in place bya mechanism similar to that described in connection with the ladys shoeof FIGS. l-5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided adetachable heel and locking means therefor, and in use with the partsarranged as shown in the drawings it will be noted that a member such asthe support member 41 is permanently secured to the rear bottom portionof the shoe, as, for example, by means of securing elements 43. Thesupport member 4] has a prong or pin 47 depending from he front endthereof.

The replaceable or detachable heel 24 has the recess 25 therein whichsnugly receives the base piece 32, and the base piece 32 as well as thelever 28 are secured to the heel 24 by means of securing elements suchas the screws 39.

With the parts in a position such as that shown in FIG. 2 for example,when it is desired to remove the heel 24 it is only necessary tomanually depress the projecting portion 31 so that the aperture 40 willclear the prong 47 whereby the entire heel 24 can be separated from theshoe since the trackways 36 will be able to slide rearwardly andseparate from the stationary base piece 32 affixed to the shoe. Thetapered surface 27 provides clearance space to permit the portion 31 tomove downwardly slightly in order to clear the prong or pin 47. Afterthe heel 24 has been removed another heel can be readily put in place byreversing the previously described procedure. The lever 28 is adapted tobe made of a suitable material such as a thin metal of sufficientresiliency so that the parts will be normally in the position of FIG. 2whereby the prong 47 will project through the aperture 40 in order toprevent accidental separation or disengagement of the heel from theshoe. Thus, there is provided the automatic locking feature.

When positioning a heel on the shoe, the heel is moved so that thetrackways 36 engage the side shoulders 46 of the support member 41, andthen when the heel 24 is moved a sufficient and proper distance theprong or lock pin 47 will automatically snap into place in the aperture40 so as to maintain the shoe heel in its proper assembled position. Acover piece 52 may be arranged as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for assuringcomfoizt to the wearer.

FIGS. I5 illustrate the present invention on a ladys shoe heel whileFIG. 6 shows a portion of a shoe heel 48 on a man's shoe that is adaptedto be mounted as previously described for a ladys shoe heel.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in dif ferent shapesand sizes.

The shank l9 helps stabilize the parts together. The entire unit is allin one piece. It is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to any particular type or shape of shoe. The main feature is thelocking arrangement. The present in vention consists of a minimum numberof pieces. Also, the present invention is an improvement over prior US.Pat. No. 2,449,914 since it has fewer parts and a simpler construction.With the present invention there will be no scarring of the uppers,soles and the like, and the device is easy and quick to use, and it isnot necessary to bother with trimming. Also, when the device is beingused there will be nothing to detract from the appearance of the shoe.When the heel is slid in place the lock is automatically actuated. Thedevice does nothing to hurt the foot, and with the present invention onecan get two or three sets of heels and slip it on the shoe as desired.The present invention only takes a short period of time to put on ortake off, and if a woman wants a lower or higher heel she can readilyput it on and change different colors and styles of heels. She canreadily change heels in the desired manner. The shank 19 serves tostabilize the shoe so that the parts will not accidentally break off.

While the present invention has been shown and described specificallyfor use with a detachable heel for shoes, it is to be understood thatthe principles of the present invention are applicable to any devicesthat are adapted to be connected together. In other word, the presentinvention is not restricted or limited to use on detachable heels forshoes.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present inventionhas been illustrated and described, it is understood that variousmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andthe scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In a shoe, including an upper, inner and outer sole, a detachableheel, a shank interposed between said inner and outer soles, theimprovement consisting in providing a means for detachably connectingsaid heel to said shoe, said means comprising a recess in said heelextending from the front edge to a point spaced forwardly of the rearedge of the heel, there being a tapered surface on said heel adjacentthe front of the recess, a lever mounted in said recess and having acurved finger-engaging springy portion adjacent said tapered surface, abase piece mounted in said recess above said lever, said base pieceincluding a bottom wall, spaced parallel sidewalls, inwardly disposedflanges and diametrically disposed trackways, said bottom wall havingregistering openings therein, securing elements extending through saidregistering openings into engagement with the heel, the projectingportion of said lever having an aperture therein, a support memberhaving spacedapart openings therein registering with aligned openings inthe outer sole inner sole and shank, securing elements extending throughsaid registering openings, said support member having a lower portion ofincreased width and an upper portion of decreased width and definingshoulders that are slidably received in said trackways, and a pindepending from the front end of said support member for selectiveengagement with the aperture in the lever.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoe is a ladysshoe.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoe is a man's shoe.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the lever is made ofmaterial having inherent springiness.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the top of the base pieceis substantially flush with the top of the support member.

1. In a shoe, including an upper, inner and outer sole, a detachableheel, a shank interposed between said inner and outer soles, theimprovement consisting in providing a means for detachably connectingsaid heel to said shoe, said means comprising a recess in said heelextending from the front edge to a point spaced forwardly of the rearedge of the heel, there being a tapered surface on said heel adjacentthe front of the recess, a lever mounted in said recess and having acurved finger-engaging springy portion adjacent said tapered surface, abase piece mounted in said recess above said lever, said base pieceincluding a bottom wall, spaced parallel sidewalls, inwardly disposedflanges and diametrically disposed trackways, said bottom wall havingregistering openings therein, securing elements extending through saidregistering openings into engagement with the heel, the projectingportion of said lever having an aperture therein, a support memberhaving spaced-apart openings therein registering with aligned openingsin the outer sole , inner sole and shank, securing elements extendingthrough said registering openings, said support member having a lowerportion of increased width and an upper portion of decreased width anddefining shoulders that are slidably received in said trackways, and apin depending from the front end of said support member for selectiveengagement with the aperture in the lever.
 2. The structure as definedin claim 1 wherein said shoe is a lady''s shoe.
 3. The structure asdefined in claim 1 wherein the shoe is a man''s shoe.
 4. The structureas defined in claim 1 wherein the lever is made of material havinginherent springiness.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein thetop of the base piece is substantially flush with the top of the supportmember.